Officer wounded in shooting outside Newark school dies

NEWARK (AP) A second suspect has been arrested in the shooting death of a school police officer investigating a fight between two students near a city high school.

Officer Dwayne Reeves, 35, a school security officer with full police powers, died Monday after being shot in the head during an exchange of gunfire with a man in a car.

A second officer, Akhia Scott, 27, was treated for a gunshot wound to the hand.

The first suspect, Omar Tindell, 26, of Newark, was shot in the stomach during a confrontation with the officers. He was listed in fair condition at University Hospital.

The name of the second suspect, who had fled the scene, was not immediately given by police.

The shootout occurred about 2 p.m. on the sidewalk outside Weequahic High School, according to Newark police spokesman Derek Glenn. Both officers were on duty and in uniform, he said.

Newark Mayor Sharpe James said Monday the shooting stemmed from a fight involving two female students at the school. One called a relative for assistance, James said, and that person was one of the men who confronted the police officers.

According to Willie Freeman, director for security the Newark School District, the officers approached a car and “there was a confrontation that took place and that’s when they exchanged fire.”

Newark School Superintendent Marion A. Bolden credited the officers with containing a potentially dangerous situation at the school, which had just let students out after a summer school session. Reeves was a hero, she said.

Reeves, a four-year police veteran, had recently been assigned to the high school, Freeman said. He died at 5:25 p.m. at University Hospital in Newark, according to hospital spokesman Rogers Ramsey.

Glenn said the two lawmen were trained by the Newark Police Department and had full police powers, but are employed by the school district.

The shooting occurred about a block from the school’s main entrance, near the football field and stadium. The last Newark officer killed in the line of duty was Melvin Lisojo, on June 24, 2003, when his car was struck by a drunken driver who ran a red light.

JEFF GOLDAssociated Press

NEWARK, N.J. - One of two Newark school police officers wounded in a shooting Monday afternoon has died.

Officer Dwayne Reeves died at 5:25 p.m., according to Rogers Ramsey, spokesman for University Hospital in Newark. The officer had been shot in the head.

A second officer, Akhia Scott, 27, was treated for a gunshot wound to the hand and released, Ramsey said.

A suspect was also shot and was in serious condition at the hospital, Ramsey said. His name was not released. Broadcast reports said police were looking for a second suspect, but police would not immediately confirm it.

The shootings happened about 2 p.m. on the sidewalk outside Weequahic High School, according to Newark police spokesman Derek Glenn. Both officers were on duty and in uniform, he said.

Investigators were interviewing the less seriously wounded officer to determine the circumstances, Glenn said.

Initial reports indicated the shooting may have stemmed from a fight the day before involving two females. Broadcast reports said the shooter might have been a relative of one of the two girls, but police would not confirm that information.

According to Willie Freeman, director for security the Newark School District, the officers approached a car and "there was a confrontation that took place and that's when they exchanged fire."

Newark School Superintendent Marion A. Bolden credited the officers with containing a potentially dangerous situation at the school, which had just let students out after a summer school session. Reeves was a hero, he said.

"This young officer gave his life protecting the children of this school," said Bolden.

Reeves had worked in the district for several years and had just recently been assigned to the high school, Freeman said.

"He had an excellent temperament," said Freeman.

The shooting occurred about a block from the school's main entrance, near the school's football field and stadium.

Shortly after 5 p.m., a flatbed truck drove away carrying a white security car that had a shattered passenger-side window.

Blue examination gloves, like those worn by emergency medical personnel and forensics investigators, lay on the sidewalk. Shattered glass lay on Chancellor Avenue a few feet away.

Glenn said the two lawmen were trained by the Newark Police Department and had full police powers, but are employed by the school district. According to Freeman, they were assigned to the Weequahic school.

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